Staff Reports

SPRING GARDEN – Both Spring Garden girls and boys basketball teams took care of business early in their Class 2A, Area 12 basketball tournament openers against Gaston on Monday.

The Lady Panthers jumped out on a 19-0 run and finished the game connecting on 14 3-pointers (8 in the first quarter) in an 82-12 win. The Panther boys went on a 20-0 first-quarter run and claimed an 88-41 to advance.

In the girls game, Neely Welsh led the Lady Panthers with 16 points, including a pair of 3-pointers and a pair of blocked shots. Ace Austin added 13 points, including three treys, with nine assists, six steals, three rebounds and two blocked shots. Kayley Kirk connected on four treys and had 12 points, three assists, two steals and a block. Maggie Jarrett posted 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Abbie Woods sank three treys and came away with nine points. Olivia Law finished with five points.

Ivy Dupree topped Gaston with 10 points.

Spring Garden led 36-6 at the end of the first quarter and held Gaston scoreless in the second quarter, in which the Lady Panthers led 50-6.

In the boys game, Andrew Floyd sank four treys and led the Panthers with 18 points, five rebounds, three steals and an assist. John Welsh added 15 points, three rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block. Jacob Welsh delivered 12 points, five rebounds, two steals, two blocks and an assist. Chaz Pope collected 11 points, seven assists, five rebounds, four steals and three blocks.

Andrew Bates connected on three treys and had nine points. Cam Welsh and Cole Bailey both finished with eight points. Both players connected on a pair of treys.

Will Bagley led the Bulldogs with eight points. Kendrick Blackwell and Adonis Jones both added seven points. Justin Pope and Brock Bagley both finished with five points.

Spring Garden held a 20-6 edge after a quarter and led 52-14 at halftime.